Determinants of Choice of Delivery Position among Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Damaturu, Northeastern Nigeria

Introduction: Delivery position is associated with better outcomes. These positions such as kneeling and squatting were the norm for delivery in indigenous Nigerian customs. However, Globalization has largely replaced these in the supine position. In many hospitals and maternity centers, women are often restricted to the supine position during delivery, which limits their autonomy in choosing their preferred birthing position. Objective: To determine the factors that influenced pregnant women’s choice of delivery positions among antenatal care attendees in Damaturu, Northeastern, Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 270 antenatal care attendees at the Specialist Hospital Damaturu. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 22.0 with p-value of 0.05, which was considered statistically significant. Results: Study findings indicated that Nearly 79% of the participants demonstrated good understanding of birthing positions. An overwhelming majority (95.9%) favored squatting and adjusting positions for comfort during delivery, whereas the supine position was the least popular choice. Participants also identified level of education, age, and prior experiences as influential factors in their preferences. Conclusion: The squatting position was the most common position used for home delivery. Educational level significantly influenced women’s autonomy in choosing their delivery position. To support informed choices, we recommend training midwives on various delivery positions. This will promote the use of Skilled Birth Attendants, ultimately reducing maternal morbidity and mortality associated with home births or traditional birth attendants.